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Sadly we have just been informed that "Matey" passed away on Saturday 24th November 2007 from an asthma attack.

Back stage at the 'Rock Garden', Middlesbrough 1979 laughing at a mooning Jody the Roadie big fat hairy arse!!


Pete Collins	Paul Gardener

Martyn "Matey" Powell	Paul Callan



Colour Photographs taken from the "Rock Garden" & the 'Welly', Middlesbrough 1979

"No Way" were founded by 'Paul Gardner' (Guitar), 'Paul Callan' (Bass) & 'Matey' (Vocals). After searching for a drummer for a while, a guy called 'Macca' played on the skins until 'Pete Collins' joined. 'Macca' left because it wasn't really his scene, good lad though. That was the four members of the band set up until we split up, 'No Way' was not just the four of us really, as we had two greasy (to say the least) Bikers who used to hump the gear for us, 'Jody the Roadie' and 'Kenny the Hammer' - wouldn't you like to know what he did with the hammer? Our traffic management officer (or the van driver) 'Deed' (who tragically passed away and is missed by the lads) and of course we never went anywhere without the "No Way Barmy Army" (a mixture of Punks, Skins & Ska) lads who looked after the band in any time of bother, 'Stevo', ''Coga', 'Scrubba', 'Jimmy Mac', 'Denzo', 'Paddy', 'Stisha'....too name but a few. When we went gigging, where ever it was, there was always "No Way" and the Barmy Army partying.

The local scene at the time was set up by 'Fran Micha' and was assisted by his colleague 'Dave Johns', both out of a four piece band called 'The Barbarians', 'Fran' on vocals and 'Dave' on guitar, who used to go round different venues getting gigs for the local bands. When the scene was really firing we played at 'The Teessider', 'The Welly', 'The Grand', 'The Zetland' and a host of other venues round the Teesside area which included Middlesbrough, Stockton, Billinghan, Norton and so on....

The main venue at the time was the 'Rock Garden', all the up and coming to be famous / recognised bands played there as a part of their tour when up in the North East. We backed 'The Damned', 'The Tourists', 'The Skids', 'The Lurkers', '999' too name a few.

We entered 'Battle of the Bands' but we only entered the competition because you got a fiver and a bottle of Champagne, we thought that we stood no chance as which panel would be interested in a Punk band? In the qualifying round we played well, but a bit of controversy as the bouncers tried to stop our fans entering the 'Fiesta Night Club', after they booted the doors in, all the stars of the sixties and early seventies played there, a real smart place. Well, after they did get in, a real good party, we had a real good night, and got through to the Grand Final.

A couple of weeks later, the Grand Final...another fiver and a bottle of Champers. This time bouncers everywhere. We were first to the stage to a chorus of boo's but more cheers as there were more people to see us this time than in the earlier heats.

Again we played well, tight as a ducks arse. 'Matey' was snarling at the judges and the fans of the other bands, (basically taking the piss...) with bouncers stood at the front of the stage in case of any bother. On the last number we played, there was an almighty surge of about thirty Skins, Punks and Ska lads which the bouncers could nothing about apart from shitting their pants, lunge at them and climb onto the stage and start chanting the words of that particular song and dancing. What a way to finish a set, absolutely mega. The other bands did their thing and the announcement was due for the winners, when they said that we had won the place erupted, I think people who didn't really know what 'No Way' was about had seen a bunch of local lads playing their own stuff and rocking the place, were cheering and applauding. More friends. When we got the cup (see photo below) and the champers, the atmosphere was mega. When the noise died down a bit there was a few hecklers and too this day I remember 'Paul Gardner' going up to the Mic and said "What ever happened to love and peace man?", nice one 'Paul'...

The reward was a day in a local studio which was at 'Radio Tees' and that is where we laid down the following six tracks 'No Reality', 'Idiots Delight', 'Crazy Carol Carter', 'Destiny', 'Jeopardy' and 'Senile Delinquents'. Two of these tracks can be heard on the 'Bored Teenagers' Volume 3' compilation album.

I suppose the highlight of any band like ours in any part of the country was to play a massive venue, in this we did. I got home from work about 4pm and Ian our manager was there, he was also manager of the 'Rock Garden'. He said "Can you get the lads together as I've got a gig for you tonight", where? "The City Hall, at Newcastle". I thought he was joking but then thought it's the first time he's been round our house, he was serious. So we gathered all the lads and went off to Newcastle to support 'The Undertones'. Back stage passes, free Beer, free food and meet the 'Undertones', wow! We played a good set and got an encore as there was a lot of 'Now Way' fans there to see 'The Undertones'. A real cracking night!

Our one and only single "Breaking Point" which also featured "TV Pox" and "30 Seconds" was recorded earlier at 'The Impulse Studio', Wallsend, Newcastle. Ian our manager financed this but he could only afford to get 500 copies pressed, but I firmly believe after the 500 went like "Hot Cakes", we could have sold a couple of thousand.

The single was played on Radio One three weeks on the bat, on the 'John Peel' show. He actually said it was real good, nice one John.

Eventually we split and all went our separate ways and never heard anymore about the single until 'Dizzy' tracked us down and offered us a chance for one of our tracks from the debut single to appear on the 'Bored Teenagers volume 1' compilation album. Due to this, the word got around which fuelled a reunion. Paul Callan & Matey where still in the area but sadly Pete Collins and Paul Gardner had left the area. They said they couldn't do it as it was far too complicated due to distance and work commitments. So I got in touch with a couple of mates who were into that scene, 'Spike' on Guitar and 'Andy Grace' on Drums, two good players decided to give it a go. We practised for 3 or 4 weeks and got the old set off, nice to be playing the set again. All this was due to us appearing on the 'Bored Teenagers' compilation.

We played the 'Cornerhouse' in Middlesbrough and must have pulled in about 200 people, just like the old days. We had a real good night seeing a lot of old familiar faces all saying, do you remember this, do you remember that, what ever happened too? A bloody great night.